Richard Grande

Richard Grande, 70, died August 19, 2020  at his home in Grand Junction, Colorado ending a five-year battle with cancer. He was under the care of his wife and Hope West Hospice.

Richard was born in Conrad, Montana . The family moved a year later to the family farm his maternal Irish immigrant grandfather homesteaded at Goosebill;  land he owned and cherished until his passing. He attended a local one room country school and graduated from Fort Benton, MT  high school. Then he was off to University of Montana  where he made lifelong friends, received a Bachelor of Arts degree, and returned home to farm until 2000. Richard was then self-employed using the business and trade skills he learned on the farm. He never stopped monitoring the weather or grain prices.

Richard and wife Mary would have celebrated 30 years of marriage this fall. When they left Fort Benton they lived in Price and Salt Lake City, Utah and Fort Collins before they retired to Grand Junction. He was at his happiest fixing things—whether remodeling their many homes, engine repairs, or outdoors on landscapes or irrigation. He was generous with his knowledge and know-how. Dick loved all sports, was a good bowler and golfer, a voracious reader, and enjoyed searching for cultural sites in SE Utah.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, and survived by his wife Mary, brother Raymond (Wanda) and a sister Kathleen in Montana. No services will be held and please, no flowers. Remember Richard by helping someone or a gift to Hope West whose help granted his wish to pass on at home on his terms. He was a dryland farmer and asks that you pray for rain.